§ 3. Mr. Hardieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the Glasgow Corporation estimate that the cost of preparing a scheme of air raid precautions for the city will involve an expenditure of over £40,000, exclusive of the cost of equipment and gas masks; and whether he has received any communication from the corporation asking for an assurance that the cost of air raid precautions, equipment and masks will be borne entirely by the Government?
§ Mr. ElliotI understand that the cost of preparing a scheme of air raid precautions had been under consideration by the corporation of Glasgow and that an estimate of £40,000 has been referred to in this connection. With regard to the second part of the question, I have received representations from the Association of Councils of Counties of Cities, on which the corporation of Glasgow is represented, and from the Convention of Royal Burghs, to the effect that the Government should bear the whole of the costs of local schemes of air raid precautions. The whole question of these costs together with 762 that of the financial responsibility for their execution is at present under examination.